ARCHITECTURAL SINGULARITY

UCLA SupraStudio, 2015-2016

Research Lead: Guvenc Ozel 

Instructors: Guvenc Ozel, Natasha Bajc

Technologies: physical computing, sensor interaction, XR, robotic fabrication 

Students: Abdul Ali, Ruslan Antonenko, Mertcan Buyuksandalyaci, Panpan Cao, Tsung-Yen Hsieh, Onur Karaduman, Yuanzhi Li, Yimiao Lin, Shahrzad Razi, Simi Shenoy, Chen Sun, Tian Tang, Zheng Yang, Meng Zhang, Xixiao Zhang, Andi Zheng, Yuyun Zheng

As described by prolific scientist and theorist Ray Kurzweil, technological singularity is defined as a moment in human history where the human intelligence is artificially enhanced to transverse and transgress into a form of intelligence that is not a direct consequence of natural evolutionary processes, but rather as manifest destiny, or artificial intelligence. Kurzweil defines this historic moment as a necessity that originates as an outcome of our own shortcomings to adapt into the hyperbolic growth in the speed in which collective technological progress evolves. It is defined as an intended and designed form of human evolution, both cognitive and material, defined by our own lack of understanding and ability to comprehend the tools that we create for our own existence due to our stagnant and slow biological makeup. Yet it is bound to become the foremost medium in which we will recalibrate the relationship between humans, technology and nature.

Such a proposition has its precedent in our understanding of the self-organizing, or intelligent, properties of natural systems. Our analytical models of self-organizing, self generating and self evolving systems are based on the mathematical abstractions we created to translate these systems into media that we can comprehend, communicate and eventually materialize. These systems serve as the models in which we derive an understanding toward artificial intelligence. Such dramatic change in the way in which we establish control over our existence impacts not only our bodies and cognition, but also the way in which we shape the material world. The Singularity Studio intends to investigate the architectural outputs of this emerging reality in 3 distinct design investigations, inherently or by design: Generative Systems, Cybernetics and Mixed Reality. In this sequence, the media in which the explorations take place travel between the digital and physical worlds, synthesizing design methodology with architectural product through a streamlined process.